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Difficulty: MediumEstablishing Introductions and Thesis Statements

The following is an excerpt from an essay about eighteenth-century zoology.

[1]
_____________________. When the first specimen arrived in England from Australia in 1799, British naturalists were convinced it was a clever hoax. George Shaw, the keeper of natural history at the British Museum, even used a pair of scissors to inspect the dried pelt, searching for the stitches he assumed were binding a duck’s bill to a beaver-like body. However, as more specimens arrived, scientists had to accept that this bizarre creature, with its webbed feet, fur, and venomous spurs, was indeed real.

Which choice most effectively introduces the paragraph and establishes the main topic of the passage?

  1. A
    Naturalists in the eighteenth century documented many unusual species, they often doubted the authenticity of specimens sent from distant lands.
  2. The duck-billed platypus has long baffled the scientific community with its unique blend of mammalian and avian characteristics.Answer
  3. C
    The discovery of various strange animals in the Australian colonies, along with reports of bizarre plants, have historically confused European researchers.
  4. D
    Although early explorers encountered many strange creatures in the Southern Hemisphere, the platypus was not the only animal that will surprise them.

Answer

The duck-billed platypus has long baffled the scientific community with its unique blend of mammalian and avian characteristics.
The correct option stating that the platypus baffled the scientific community with its mammalian and avian features is correct because it introduces the specific subject of the paragraph (the platypus) and directly connects to the subsequent sentences describing the naturalists' disbelief and the animal's bizarre physical traits.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary topic and focus of the paragraph.
The paragraph describes the arrival of the platypus specimen in England, the disbelief of the naturalists, and their eventual realization that the bizarre creature was real.
The correct introduction must establish the platypus as the central subject and set up the theme of scientific skepticism.
2
Evaluate the choices for relevance and focus.
The option focusing on the duck-billed platypus baffling the scientific community directly introduces the paragraph's subject and theme. Other options are either too general or grammatically flawed.
An effective introduction must align logically with the supporting details in the passage.
3
Check the remaining options for grammatical errors.
The option beginning with 'Naturalists in the eighteenth century' contains a comma splice. The option starting with 'The discovery of various' has a subject-verb agreement error. The option starting with 'Although early explorers' contains an inconsistent tense shift.
Eliminating grammatically incorrect distractors confirms the validity of the correct choice.

Key Concept

Establishing Introductions and Thesis Statements
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Topics

Establishing Introductions and Thesis Statements

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